The entire north coast of Colombia, South America, was once a grant made by the King of Spain to Alonzo de Ajeda (1508). The three fascinating cities on this coast are Santa Marta (1525), Cartagena (1533) and Barranquilla. Seventy million god dollars was spent to fortify Cartagena alone--and her 40-foot sea wall still encircles the city.

Santa Marta is famous for the shrine erected to the memory of General Simon Bolivar, the Great Liberator.